BENJAMIN RABIER - THE ROOSTER - Umbrella knob with rooster head in painted wood, signed "Benjamin Rabier". Good condition, partial wear, good colours. Approximately 12 x 7 cm. Benjamin RABIER, animal illustrator born on 30 December 1864 in La Roche-sur-Yon, published his first drawings in La Chronique amusante and Le Gil Blas illustré in 1892. He was also a great inspiration to his fellow artists. Hergé, for example, discovered him through his illustrations of La Fontaine's Fables and later borrowed the character of Tintin from him.1895 saw the publication of his first children's album, Mauvais garnement (tintin-lutin). In 1902, Benjamin Rabier was entrusted with an edition of L'Assiette au beurre. For around fifteen years, he worked for Banania chocolate powder, Delbeck champagne, Le Chat soap, La Baleine salt and Dubonnet spirits, among others. He died in October 1939, and his creations, from Tintin to La Vache qui rit (The Laughing Cow), are more alive than ever, perpetuating his memory. He is considered one of Europe's greatest animal cartoonists (source: herodote.net)